Slip construction



June 17, 1958 L. J. RoussEL 2,339,164

SLIP CQNSTRUCTION Filed April 9. 1956 Fig./

Louis J. Rousse/ IN VEN TOR.

United States Patent-Q SLIP CONSTRUCTION Louis J. Roussel, New Orleans,La., assiguor to Universal Driiling Company, Inc.

Application April 9, 1956, Serial No.-576,978

5 Claims. (Cl. 188-67) This invention relates in general to new anduseful improvements in slip construction, and more specifically to animproved slip construction for use in conjunction with a caisson.

In order to support barge like working platforms in elevated positionsfor supporting ofishore drilling rigs, there are carried by theplatforms a plurality of caissons. The caissons are releasably connectedto the platforms by a suitable jaw construction in order that theplatform may be moved relative to the caissons. Such a bargeconstruction is disclosed in my copending application Serial No.568,761, filed March 1, 1956.

In order to facilitate the construction of the caissons and also reducethe cost thereof, it is highly desirable that the caissons be of asmooth skin construction. However, inasmuch as the connection betweenthe caissons and the platform must transmit a relatively heavy load, itis necessary that the connections be of such a nature whereby relativemovement between the caissons and the platform is prevented. It istherefore the primary object of this invention to provide an improvedslip construction which is suitable for use in conjunction with caissonsfor locking the caissons against relative vertical movement.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved slipconstruction which includes a supporting frame intended to be suitablycarried by a platform against n movement, the supporting framesupporting a pair of vertically spaced bowls, there being associatedwith each of the bowls a plurality of slips, the slips being carried byan intermediate slip support and there being provided means forvertically shifting the slip support to selectively wedge 2,839,164Patented June 17, 1958 ice 2 that there is illustrated in Figure 1 anintermediate portion of a caisson 10. The caisson 10 is intended tosupport a platform or the like by being interlocked to such a platformas set forth in my aforementioned copending application.

.In order that the caisson it) may be locked against relative verticalmovement, there is provided an improved slip construction which isreferred to in general by the reference numeral 12. The slipconstruction 12 includes a supporting frame, which is referred to ingeneral by the reference numeral 14. The supporting frame 14 is-formedof an upper plate 16 and a lower plate 18 which will be suitably mountedon the platform (not shown). The plate 16 is provided with an enlargedopening 20 aligned with a similar opening 22 in the plate 18. Thecaisson 10 passes through the openings 20 and 22.

Secured to the underside of the plate 16 is an upper bowl 24. A similarbowl 26 is secured to the upper face of the plate 18. The bowls 24 and26 are connected together by an annular plate 28.

The bowl 24 includes an inner peripheral surface 30 which slopesupwardly and inwardly. The bowl 26' includes an inner annular peripheralsurface 32 which slopes downwardly and inwardly. The surfaces 30 and 32are spaced a suitable distance from the external periphery of thecaisson 10.

Disposed intermediate the bowls 24 and 26 is an annular slip support 34.Extending upwardly from the slip support 34 at ciroumferentiallyspacedintervals are pivotally mounted links 36 to which there arepivotally mounted links 36 to which there are pivotally connectedupstanding upper slips 38. The slips 38 are arcuate in outline andinclude outer tapered faces 46. 7

Extending downwardly from the slip support 34 in circumferentiallyspaced relation is a plurality of links 42. Pivotally carried by thelinks 42 are lower slips 44 having tapered outer surfaces 46. It is tobe noted that the slips 38 and 44 are identical, but are positioned inreverse of each other. It is also to be notedthat the bowls 24 and 26are identical, but are reversely mounted.

The slips 38 and 44 are of such proportions whereby when engaged withtheir respective bowls 24 and 26, they 7 are spaced slightly from thecaisson it). However, by

the slips between the bowls in the-caisson to lock the caisson relativeto the supporting frame.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved slipconstruction for locking caissons against movement, the slipconstruction including vertically spaced hollow bowls, there beingdisposed between the bowls a slip support, a plurality of slipspivotally carried by the slip support for vertical movement therewithfor selective wedging between a caisson and the bowls, the bowls havingmounted therein means for vertically shifting the slip support asdesired.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view taken through an intermediateportion of the caisson and shows the relationship of the slipconstruction, which is the subject of F vertically moving the slipsupport 34 upwardly, the slips 38 will become wedged between the bowl 24and the caisson 10. When the slips 38ers in this position, the caisson10 is prevented from moving upwardly with respect to the supportingframe 14. At this time the slips'44 are freely suspended between thebowl 26 and the caisson lll "and have no function.

When it is desired to prevent the caisson 10 from moving downwardly withrespect to the supporting frame 14, the slip support 34 is moveddownwardly to Wedge the slips 44 between the bowl .26 and the caisson10. It is to be noted that the movement of the slips, 38 and 44 intowedged positions is that direction which it is desired to prevent thecaisson 10 from moving. Thus any attempt on the part of the caisson 10to move once the slips 38 and 44 have been set will result in the urgingof the slips 38 and 44 to positions of greater locking pressure.

In order that the support 34 may be selectively vertically positioned toset the slips 38 and 44, there is carried by the bowl 24 within theinterior thereof a plurality of fluid motors 48, the fluicl'rnotors 43being circumferentially spaced. Each of the fluid motors 48 includes acylinder 50 having mounted therein a piston 52. Extending downwardlyfrom the piston 52 and suitably connected to the support 34 is a pistonrod 54. Suitably mounted in the upper part of the bowl 24 is a circularfluid line 56 which is connected to the upper part of each of thecylinders. Thus when fluid is introduced into the fluid line 56, thepistons 52 are driven downwardly to set the slips 44.

fluid motor 58 includes a cylinder 60 having mounted therein'a piston62; Extending between the pistons 62 and the slip support 34 andsuitably connected to the slip support 34 is a piston rod64. Mounted inthe lower part of the bowl 26 is a circular fluid line 66 which iscommunicated with the lower end of each cylinder '60. Thus when fluid isplaced under pressure-in the fluid line 66, the pistons 62 are urgedupwardly to move the slip support 34 upwardly to set the slips 38.

Referring now to'Figure 3 in particular, it will be seen that in orderto control the operation of the fluid motors 48 and 58, there isprovided a fluid pump 68. The fluid pump 68 is connected to a supplyreservoir 70 by means of a pipe 72. The motor 68 is also connected to apressure reservoir 73 by means of a pipe 74.- A suitable valve 76 isprovided for controlling the flow of fluid to and from the fluid lines56 and 66. Connecting the fluid reservoirs 70 and 73 to the valve 76.are fluid lines 78 and 80 respectively. Connecting'the valve 76-to thefluid lines 56 and 66 are pipes 82and 84. Because of the particularconstruction of the valve'76, it will be modifications and changes willreadily occur to those' skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows: a

1. A slip construction for locking caissons in position, said slipconstruction comprising a supporting frame, vertically spaced fixedannular bowls carried by said supporting frame, said bowls including alower bowl having a downwardly and inwardly sloping innerlperipheralsurface, and an upper bowl having an upwardly and inwardly slopingsurface, a caisson freely passing through said bowls in spaced relationto said surfaces, a slip support disposed between said bowls forvertical movement, upper and lower slips pivotally carried by said slipsupportin engagement with said surfaces, and means supported by saidsupporting frame and connected to said slip supportfor verticallyshifting said slip support to selectively wedge said slips between saidbowls and said caisson to prevent movement of said caisson relative tosaid supporting frame, said supporting frame including upper and lowerload receiving plates directly overlying and directly underlying saidupper bowl and said lower bowl, respectively.

. 2. A slip construction for locking caissons in position, said slipconstruction comprising a supporting frame, vertically spaced fixedannular bowls carried by said supporting frame, said bowls including alower bowl having a downwardly and inwardly sloping inner peripheralsurface, and an'upper bowl having an upwardly and in- V wardly slopingsurface, a caisson freely passing through said bowls in spaced relationto said surfaces, a slip support disposed between said, bowls forvertical moveslipsupport in engagement with said surfaces, and meanssupported by said supporting frame and connected to said slip supportfor vertically shifting said slip support to said supporting frame, saidmeans being directly carried ment, upper and lower slips pivotallycarried by said u by said bowls.

3. A slip construction for locking caissons in position, said slipconstruction comprising a supporting frame, verticallyspaced fixedannular bowls carried by said supporting frame, said bowls including alower bowl. having a downwardly and'inwardly sloping inner peripheralsurface, andan upper bowl having an upwardly and inwardly slopingsurface, a caisson, freely passing through said bowls in spaced relationto said surface, a slipsupport disposed between said bowls for verticalmovement, upper and lower slips pivotally carried by said slip sup: portin engagement with said surfaces, and means supported by said supportingframe and connected to said slip support for vertically'shifting saidslip support to selectively wedge said slips between said bowls and saidcaissons to prevent movement, of said caisson relative to saidsupporting frame, said means being mounted within said bowls andprojecting therefrom. p

4. A slip construction for locking caissons in position, said slipconstruction comprising a supporting frame, vertically "spaced 'fixedannular bowlscarr'ied by said supporting frame, said bowls including alower bowl having a downwardly and inwardly sloping inner peripheral sunface, and an upper bowl having an upwardly and inwardly sloping surface,a caisson freely passing through said bowls in spaced relation to saidsurface, a slip sup port disposed between said bowls for verticalmovement, upper and lower slips pivotally carried by said slip supportin engagement with said surfaces, and means sup ported by saidsupporting frame and connected to said slip support for verticallyshifting said slip support to selectivelywedge said Slips between saidbowls and said caissons to prevent movement of said caisson relative tosaid supporting frame, said means being directly connected to said bowlsand including fluid motors mounted in said bowls.

5. A slip construction for locking caissons in position, said slipconstruction comprising a supporting frame, vertically spaced fixedannular. bowls carried by said supporting frame, said bowls including alower .bowl hav ing a downwardly and inwardly sloping inner peripheralsurface, and an upper bowl having an upwardly and in:

wardly sloping surface, a caisson freely passing through said bowls inspaced relation to said surfaces, a slip References Cited in the file ofthis patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 722,894 Potter Mar. 17, 1903 1,404,811Tubbs Jan. 3], 1,872,105 Black Aug. 16, 1932 2,189,244 Gilbert Feb. 6,19 40 2,700,201 'Bannister Jan. 25, 1955

